Patricide

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Le Meurtre de Laius par Oedipe by Joseph Blanc depicts the mythological patricide of Laius by his son Oedipus. Joseph Blanc Le meurtre de Laius.JPG
Le Meurtre de Laïus par Oedipe by Joseph Blanc depicts the mythological patricide of Laius by his son Oedipus.

Patricide (or paternal homicide) is the act of killing one's own father or stepfather. The word patricide derives from the Latin word pater (father) and the suffix -cida (cutter or killer). Patricide is a sub-form of parricide, which is defined as an act of killing a close relative. [1] In many cultures and religions patricide was considered one of the worst sins. For example, according to Marcus Tullius Cicero, in the Roman Republic it was the only crime for which the civilian could be sentenced to death. [2]

Contents

Patricides in myths and religions

Patricide is a common motif that is prevalent throughout many religions and cultures, and particularly in the mythology and religion of Greek culture. Some key examples of patricide from various cultures are included as follows:

Known or suspected historical patricides

Contemporary statistics

In the United States between 1980 and 2010 fathers were more likely than mothers to be killed by their children. Teenage sons (16 to 19 years-old) were most often the perpetrators in parental killings. [5]

Fathers killed by children in the United States by sex and age of offender 1980 2008.svg
Breakdown of known homicides involving children killing a father between 1980 and 2008. Sons committed patricide far more frequently than daughters. [5]
United States family homicides by relationship 1980 2008.svg
Rates of individual homicide involving family members in the United States between 1980 and 2010. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fratricide</span> Act of killing ones own brother

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Poena cullei under Roman law was a type of death penalty imposed on a subject who had been found guilty of patricide. The punishment consisted of being sewn up in a leather sack, with an assortment of live animals including a dog, snake, monkey, and a chicken or rooster, and then being thrown into water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Udayin</span> Ruler of Magadha

Udayin also known as Udayabhadra was a king of Magadha in ancient India. According to the Buddhist and Jain accounts, he was the son and successor of the Haryanka king Ajatashatru. Udayin laid the foundation of the city of Pataliputra at the confluence of two rivers, the Son and the Ganges. He shifted his capital from Rajagriha to Pataliputra due to the latter's central location in the empire.

References

  1. "Definition of PATRICIDE". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  2. "How and Why the Romans Executed People". Owlcation.com. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  3. "Winnipeg Homicide". Winnipeghomicide.org. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  4. Waldie, Paul (31 May 2004). "CEO's killer past comes back to haunt him". Theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Cooper, Alexia D.; Smith, Erica L. (2011-11-16). Homicide Trends in the United States, 1980–2008 (Report). Bureau of Justice Statistics. pp. 21–22. NCJ 236018. Archived from the original on 2018-03-30. Fathers were more likely than mothers to be killed by their children; Teenage sons (16 to 19 years-old) were most often the perpetrators in parental killings (figures 32a and 32b)